News

Deposit's Whitehead Signs with Panthers

Deposit High’s Amber Whitehead has joined the 2017 recruiting class for Panthers Women's Basketball. The forward signed her NJCAA National Letter of Intent to join Coach Dave Stevenson's program this fall.

"Amber provides a strong inside presence on both ends of the court," said Stevenson of the 5-10 Whitehead. “She shoots the ball well and is an aggressive rebounder. Plus, she’s the type of person we want in our program. I’m excited to get her on campus."

Washington Adds All-Region Honors

March 17, 2017

Tompkins Cortland Community College women’s basketball player Jaida Washington (Elmira H.S./Elmira) has collected another honor. The freshman was voted All-Region by the coaches in the NJCAA Region III. A total of 16 players were named all-region; Washington earned second-team honors.

Washington had previously been named to the Mid-State Athletic Conference all-conference team. She led the nation in blocked shots, averaging 6.5 per game, and was third in the region in rebounds with 13.7 per game. She had two triple-doubles – the first two in program history – and finished the season with 11 other double-doubles. She also set school records for rebounds and blocked shots in a season.

Washington is the seventh Tompkins Cortland player ever voted to the all-region team.

Washington Named All-MSAC

February 27, 2017

Tompkins Cortland Community College freshman Jaida Washington (Elmira H.S./Elmira) was named to the Mid-State Athletic Conference women’s basketball all-conference team. In voting by the coaches from the seven MSAC programs, Washington was one of the ten named to the team.

Washington had an outstanding season, improving every game, and peaking during the conference schedule. She had at least 11 rebounds in 10 of her 11 conference games, recording six double-doubles in MSAC games. She finished the regular season with the first triple-double in school history, and then matched that accomplishment in the conference playoff semifinal. She finished conference-play averaging 13.8 rebounds, 10.7 points, and 6.2 blocks per game, all tops on the team.

This year marks the third consecutive season Tompkins Cortland has had a player named all-conference. A total of 14 players have earned all-MSAC honors in the 17-year history of women’s basketball at Tompkins Cortland. The program has never had a repeat all-conference selection, something Washington will look to do next year.

Coaches–Women's Basketball

David Stevenson

Head Coach

MSAC Coach of the Year2010, 2013, 2014

Coach Stevenson enters his fourth season with the women's basketball program, following a similar track as he used during the most successful run in the history of the College's men's basketball program. In both cases, Stevenson inherited a program in need of rebuilding, and did so quickly. In 2016-17, the Panthers women's team posted the best winning percentage in over a decade, making playoffs for the second-straight year. During his decade directing the men's program, Coach Stevenson's teams established new records for wins, topping 20 victories three times, and won the Mid-State Athletic Conference championship three times (including his last two seasons). The goals for the women are similar, and the foundation is being laid.

Stevenson joined the men's basketball staff as an assistant in 2003-04, bringing a strong work ethic and knowledge of the game to the floor each night. He is well known for caring for his students both on and off the court, tracking academic progress as well as developing basketball skills. He has worked hard to bring quality players into the program, and to help those players continue their careers at the four-year level. In his time with the program, he has helped players earn scholarships to Mercy College in New York, Drake University in Iowa, and Avila University in Kansas. His former players have also shown up on the rosters at Buffalo State, Oneonta State, Oswego State, Old Westbury College, Morrisville State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, SUNY Fredonia, and Daniel Webster College in New Hampshire. A former standout athlete at Trumansburg High and a college baseball player, Coach Stevenson is Tompkins Cortland's assistant athletic director.

Contact: dls@tompkinscortland.edu, 607-844-8222, Ext.4494

Jeff Riker

Assistant Coach

Coach Riker returns for his eighth season on the bench with the women's program. A strong recruiter and teacher on the court, he has been instrumental in bringing in the program's top players and helping them reach their potential. His passion for the game extends back to when he was an IAC all-star at Dryden High. He played college ball at Onondaga Community College, appearing the Region III All-Star Game, and at SUNY Potsdam.

Coach Riker has consistently been supportive of Tompkins Cortland's student-athletes, both on and off the court, a quality he shares with Head Coach Stevenson.